Method and apparatus for applying strip material to annular articles



Feb. 28, 1' 92s. 1,661,090 I W. F. RENNIE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING STRIP MATERIAL TO ANNULAR ARTICLES Filed Aug. 4, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ina/6min)" I Vzzlz am FRennz. MM

Feb. 28, 1 28. 1,661,090

W. F. RENNIE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING STRIP'MATERIAL T0 AN NULAR ARTICLES Filed Aug. 4, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v l\\ 24 \l 2? In venf 01 VWl/Zam F 18672271 6.

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Patented Feb. 28, 1928.

QYUN'ITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

wILLraM F.

nnnnrn or nnnon oziio, assrenon ro THE B. a. GOODRICH on NEW, 201m, N, Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK macrnon Aim APPARATUS FOR APPLYING STRIP MATERIAL mo xnnirmn narrows.

Application flled August 4, 1923. SCTHII NO. 855,586. r

In the manufactureoi such tires a C01Ilznon practice is to cover each-bead POPHOII of the tire carcass with a strip of bias-cut fabric, said strip running longitudinally. along the bead and extending laterally from line somewhat above or outward from the head down. to the toe of the latteryand said strip also usually is folded back upwardzonto the innner face of the head portion ofthe tire The strip is thus required to be bent substantially in its own plane, and the rapid laying oi the strip has presentedaditficult problem, since it is: desirable that the strip be laid SDlOOtlllf] and withou'twrinkles' and yet Without such high tension as to result 1n the subsequent hreakingthereof,particularly at its elongated outer margin.

Heretofore, so far as I am aware, such,

strips have been bent to conform to the: longial curvature of the side face of the at in swung laterally about a part thereof pre- \"lmli-ily attached to; the article, and by ten;

stoning engagement with the stripat a point thercam remote from the stripsl POlIlt ot' attachment to the article, with: the result that the inner as well as, the outer Iuargin'of the strip, at points remote from the article, is

stretched, although said inner margin should not be elongated as it passes onto the article. My general object is to, rovide improved procedure and apparatus or applying strip: material to annular articles, and moreparticularly tires. More specific objects are to savetisme. andwlabor, to obtainnan accurate laying of the fabric strip, and to do so without buclb ling and without excessive tension inany: part of the strip. 1 attain these objects by: feeding thestrip onto the side face ofthe article, and so guiding and tensioning it closely jjacl acent its point of progressive atachment as to cause it to bend substantially inits own plane and so to be1pre-shapedbes fore it passes onto the, article, the pointof tensionlng engagement being so close to said point of attachment that theresultdescribed may be produced without at any time sob Vjectingthe inner margin of the strip toflsnbstantiaitension. a a

such as a tire head, by being inleafiect,

mountedvupon an arm 16 ad strip comprises. i

for applying finishing strips to Fig. 1, showing also a presser roller;

Fig. '4 is a similar view showing a second presser roller. i

Fig. 5 is a similar view prcsser roller. r

Fig. 6 is. a plan view of arts of the ap paratus; including a guide or the finishing strip.

Referring to the drawings, 10in the 'rotatable, core-supporting chuck oi a tire* building machine, 11 isthe tire core thereon and 12 1s atire carcassbuiltuponfsaid core. 13, 14, and :15: are respective bead-stitching rollers such as heretofore have been used for shaping and pressingrthe carcass plies about the head "of the tire, saiduroiilfers being apted tobe held toward'thenwork by means heretofore faimi liar in'theart and therefore not shown 'orshowing a third further described herein;

COMPANY,

so i

The biasi-cut finishingsstrip is. shown at 17; I

The means: for guiding and tensioning said an annular supporting bracket 18 encircling the twovarms of a oke l9,'between which arm-s thebead-stitc ling rollerr13 is journalted, saidmyokeubeing clamped to the arm-16 by its threadedstem 19,-the latter being mounted in a slotflOin said arm andprovidied with a suitable champingnut (not shown) sothatthe yokemay berrsecured at "different distances from the axis; ofrotat'ron of the work to hold the roller 13 and the guidingand tensioning device in proper position. for ti beadrdiameters. r p i r The head stitching roller lfiis preferably provided with, a circumferential series: of 1 pins 13, .13 extending generally: toward the axis of rotation-r of, the tire core and diverg ing from eachlother as shown, saidcpins bemgwadiapted to engage the ==finishing strip at spaced intervals: and bend-lit laterally res of idifierent about the; salient ofthe bead withia' forward wiping nmtion, greatest toward the free ends of the pins, so as to exert a longitudinal compressing force upon the finishing strip to contribute to the shortening of its inner margin which is essential to its being fitted onto the bead, and to stick it firmly to the salient of the bead at spaced intervals so that it will not be gathered in a progressively enlarging wave in later rolling operations, the operation of the pins being somewhat in the nature of a fiuting action, but having a fluting effect so small that subsequent rolling completely conforms the finishing strip to the bead.

The annular bracket 18 is formed at opposite sides with slots, one being shown at 21 (Fig. 2), in which are mounted respective screws 21, 21, threaded into the arms of the yoke 19, the bracket thus being adapted to be secured by said screws in different angular positions about the yoke to vary the lateral tilt of a guiding and tentioning plate 22 secured on said bracket. 7

Between said plate 22 and said bracket is a clamping plate 23, on which the plate 22 is secured by screws 24, 24, said clamping plate being formed with a pair of arcuate slots 25, 25, countersunk at the upper side of the plate to accommodate the heads of respective bolts 26, 26, mounted in said slots, by which bolts the plate 23 is secured to the bracket 18, said plate being thus adapted to be secured in different angular positions about a vertical axis to vary the angle of the tension ing and guiding plate 22 with relation to the tire.

The'plate 22 is turned slightly downward along its margin adjacent the tire, so as to avoid undue abrasion of the finishing strip, and is provided on its upper face-with a side-guide bar 27 adjustably secured thereon by bolts 28, 28, mounted'in slots 29, 29, in said plate, so that said bar may be secured in. such position as to guide the finishing str1p17 onto the tire with its outer V edge at the desired distance from the bead of the tire.

The plate 22 is thus adapted to be ad usted about an axis normal to the tire at the side thereof and about an axis extending longitudinally of the tire at the side thereof, and the bar 27 may be adjusted bodily from and toward the axis of rotation of the tire and also angularly adjusted to the extent permitted by tolerance of the bolts 28 in the slots 29. The guiding members are thus adapted to be set in the precise positions essential to the smooth and accurate application of the finishing strip,which depends largely upon the finishing strip being guided very accurately both as to'its direction of approach and as to its lateraltilt. The relative tensioning of different parts of the strip partly depends upon the positioning of said plate, the tensioning of the strip as it passes onto the tire being in part effected by the friction plies, the leading end of the finishing strip a 17 is led over the plate 22 and stuck to the tire carcass, the outer side margin of the strip being aligned against the guide bar 27. The chuck 10, with the core and tire thereon, is then driven clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1, drawing the finishing strip ontothe tire, while said strip is held back by hand, as shown in Fig. 2, with appropriate tension. As the strip drawn onto the tire it is first pressed along its outer margin and into the bead groove of the tire by the roller 13 and then, by the rollers 14 and 15 at their respective stations, is pressed further about the bead and down to the toe of the latter.

As will best be understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 8, the outer margin of the biascut finishing strip is subjected to greater stretch than its inner portion as it passes from the plate 22, because only said outer plied to the tire with such relatively great amount of stretch as to give to the finishing strip a curvature substantially in its own plane, leaving the adjacent part of the strip of such relatively short length as to be pressed about the bead of the tire by the rollers let and 15 without wrinkles."

The further folding ofthe inner, margin of the strip under the toe of the tire bead is accomplished by manually holding a hooked tool 80 against toe of the bead as shown in Fig. 1, while the tire is rotated, said tool progressively prying the bead slightly away from the core and progres-r sively folding the inner margin-"of the strip up under said head.

The firstpresser roller 18, being closely adjacent the guide plate 22, the stretch of the finishing-strip resulting from pulling the latter over the plate 22 is more closely localized in the outer margin of the strip than would be the case if said plate and roller were much farther apart, since'ifthey' were very widely separated such oblique stretching forces would develop as might' resultin undue stretching'of the inner margm of the strip.

The guide plate 22 and adjacent parts I being so related as to cause the strip to'pass over the terminal edge (if-said plate with an abrupt change of direction, a snubbing ac emma tion is effected, sothat the unequal stresses set up in the outerand. innermargins of the strip by the rotation of the time are largely prevented from: extending past said plate into the approaching portion of the strip, as would occur if the strip did not turn abruptly about said edge of theiplate. The unequal stretching of the strip at its outer and inner margins is thus localized-adjacent the strips point of application, so that a relatively high differential of stretch may be had without unduly stretching the inner margin of the strip.

Modifications of my invention as above described may be resorted totwithout depart ing from its scope. While I have described it as related to the manufacture, it will. be understood that the invention appliesbroadly to any analogous situation including the building up or coveringof annular structures generally, and more specifically a con cave annular structure.

I claim;

1. The method of applying a strip of sheet material to an annular, laterally-facing surface which comprises feeding the strip onto said surface and progressively pre-shaping it to conform to the longitudinal curvature of said surrfaceas it isso fed, said strip being applied with its outer margin within the limits of said laterally-facing surface and being bent substantially in its own plane without imposing substantial tension upon its inner margin.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 in which the outer margin of'the strip is pro gressively attached to the annularsurface in advance of the attachment of inward portions of the strip and in which the bending of the strip is effected by the pull of its attached outerxmargin.

3. The method of applying an adhesive strip of sheet material to thebead portion of a tire casing which comprises feeding .the strip onto said bead portion and progressively pre-shapin it by stretching and bendingit substantially in its own plane to conform to the longitudinal curvature of said bead portion without imposing substantial tension upon its inner margin, the: outer margin of the strip being applied within the limits of the head portion of the tire.

f. A method of applying to a side; face of 1 an annular article a bias-cut, adhesive fabric said face and progressivol strip whose maximum circumference: after application is at the edge ofithe strip, said method comprising feeding the strip onto pro-shaping it to conform to the ilongitudmal curvature of said face as the strip iss o fed, without imposing substantial itension upon the inner margin of the strip.

5. The method of applying an adhesive strip of sheet material to an annular article which comprises attaching a part of the onto said side face of the article strip by hold-back engagement therewith closely adjacent its position of progressive attachment as to cause it to be bent substan tially in its own plane to assume a longitudinally arcuate form against said face, Without imposing substantial tension upon the inner. margin of the strip.

6.-The method of applying an adhesive fabric strip to an annular article which comprises sticking a part oft-he strip to a side face of the article, rotating the article in its own plane,- so guiding and tcnsioning the strip by hold-back engagement there with closely-adjacent its position'of progressive attaclmient as to cause it to be drawn, with anabrupt change of. direction,

by the rotation of the latter and so bent substantially in its own plane as to assume a longitudi nally arcuate form, and progressively pressing the strip against the article.

7. The method of applying adhesive finishing strips to tires which comprises at tachin a part of the strip to the bead portion of the tire, rotating the tire in its own plane, and so guiding and tensioning the strip by hold-back engagement tl'ierewith immediatelyadjacent its position of progressive attachment as to cause iti to be drawn onto the head portion of the tire in longitudinally arcuate form by the rotation of the tire.

8. The method of applying a bias-cut adhesive fabric strip the strip to said face, rotating the tire in its own plane, to draw said strip onto the site face thereof, so guiding and l'ensioning the strip by hold-back engagement therewith closely adjacent its position of progressive attachment as to cause. .it to be drawmwith an abrupt chan e of direction, onto said face and so bent suist-antially in its own plane to assume a longitudinally arcuate form, and progressively pressingthe strip against the tire. r i

9. Apparatus for applying a stri of sheet materialto an annular article, sai' apparatus comprising meansfor rotating the an ticle in its own planeito draw the strip onto a side'face thereof, and means forprogressively pie-shaping said strip to conform. to the longitudinal curvaturcof said face as it is so drawn thereonto, said pro-shaping means being ada ted to bend the strip in its own plane wit out imposing substantial tension upon its inner. margin.

10. Apparatusfor applying a strip of sheet material to an annular article, said apparatus comprising means for rotating the article in its own plane to draw the strip to a side face only of a i tir'e which comprises attaching a portion: of-

onto aside face thereof, and hold-back means positioned at the side of the article and engaging said strip closely adjacent its position of progressive attachmentto said side face. l

11. Apparatus for applying a strip of sheet material to an annular article, apparatus comprising means for rotating the article in its own plane, and a strip guiding member mounted in suchposition as to be closely adjacent the side face of the annular article mounted on said neans, said guide member being adapted for the drawing of the strip thereabeut, with an abrupt change of direction of the strip, as the latter, attached to the article, is drawn onto said article by the latters rotation.

'12. Apparatus for applying a strip of sheet material to an annular article, said apparatus comprising means for rotating the article in its own plane to draw the strip onto a side face thereof, meansatthe side of the article thereon for so guiding the strip as to cause it abruptly to chain; 3 its course immediately before passing onto said face, and means for pressing the strip againstsaid face V I I 13. Apparatus for applying a strip of sheet material to an annular article, said apparatus comprising a rotatable support for the article, a strip guide posit-i0 ed at the side of the article thereon and adapted to guide a strip onto a side face of the article with an abrupt change of the direction of the strip closely adjacent the article, and a roller adapted to press the strip against the article as it is d awn thereonto by the rotation of the latter, said guide being so adjustable as to vary the direction of the strips approach to the article.

14. Apparatus for applyinga strip of sheet material to an annular article, said "apparatus comprising a rotatable support for the article, a strip guide positioned at he side of the article thereon and adapted to guide a strip onto a side face of the article with an abrupt change of the direction of the strip closely adjacent the article, and a roller adapted to press the strip a ainst the article as it is drawn thereonto by the rotation of the latter, said guide being so adjustable as to vary the lateral tilt of the strip as the latter approaches'the article.

15; Apparatus for applying a str1p of sheet material to an annular article, said apparatus comprising a rotatable support for the article, a strip guide positioned at the side of the article thereon and adapted to guide a strip onto aside face of the article with an abrupt change of the direction of the strip closely adjacent the article, and

said I a roller adapted to press the strip against the article as it is drawnthereonto by'the rotation of the latter, said guide being so adjustable as to vary the direction of approach and the lateral tilt of the strip.

16. Apparatus for applying a strip of sheet material to an annular article, said apparatus comprising a rotatable support for the article, a strip guide positioned at the side of an article thereon and adapted to guide a strip onto a side face of the article, and a roller adapted to press the strip against the article as it is drawnthereonto by the rotation of the latter, said guide comprising a plate over which the strip slides in flatwise contact and from which. it passes with an abrupt'change of direction.

17 Apparatus for applying a strip a of sheet material to an annular article, said apymratus comprising a rotatable support for the article, a strip guide positioned at the side of the article thereon and adapted to guice a strip onto a side face of the article, and a. roller adapted to press the strip against the article as it is drawn thereonto by the rotation of the latter, said guide comprising a plate OVGl".WhlCl1 the strip slides in flatwise contact and a side-guide for I the strip mounted on said plate, the guiding faceof said plate being approximately normal with relation to the side face of the article and radial with relation to the latters axis. v

18. Apparatus for applying a strip of sheet material to an annular article, said apparatus comprising means for rotating the article in its own plane, a roller adapted to press a strip onto a side face of the article as the latter is rotated, and means for guiding a strip with an abrupt change of direction at a point closely adjacent the side face of said article and closely adjacent said roller as the strip is drawn between the article and said roller.

against the bead of thetire.

In witness whereof I'have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of August 1923.

vVILIdAh f F.RENNIE.

, 19. Apparatus for applying a finishing 

